As an ALPHA and first time participant, I want to confirm you that – if you consider participating with your startup and you have a real original idea with a real competitive advantage, websummit is more than a good investment.

The short answer to this question would be it’s all what you make of it. This is the movers and shakers conference and a good amount of the worlds wealth is all at one convention and at at your fingertips. The web summit is a great investment well worth every penny, your expectation would depend upon what your purpose is and or goals are, I observed people from all walks of life attend from all ages, origins and ethnicities. From students to startups, seasoned companies, investors, corporate employees, corporate conglomerates and governments attend this event.
There are a number of resources one would find beneficial. There are inspirational speakers back to back through out the day from conglomerates such as Facebook, Cisco systems, Tinder, Line, Amazon are just to name a few. Also you’d stumble upon one of the many conferences discussing the latest trends in just about everything from health to finance, future societies, content makers and much more. You’ll find entrepreneurs of all walks buzzing around chatting with there friends and business colleagues about what they just learned from one of the hundreds of different exhibits from gaming, education, big data, travel, fin tech, finance etc……. The workshops are awesome, the list really goes on and on. But to some it all up the web summit if fabulous for networking as you can expect to meet brilliant people that are more than enthuseastic to talk to you and enlighten your senses.
The Web Summit is great for building connections that may last a lifetime or potentially land you a partnership, the sky is the limit. I personally have never experienced anything like this and will attend all future WebSummits as I feel it’s vital to keep up with the newest innovations and talent that continue to rock our world ! If a good learning experience and boat loads of valuable information is not a good investment than I don’t know what is, I would trade a vacation to Hawaii for Web Summit any day of the week.

There are different types of groups attending. If you are selected as Alpha or Beta startup then you receive an exhibit stand, mentor and admission. The contacts you meet plus a potential investor are good attributes. You could be an investor who signs a great startup. Overall the cost is typically $550 to $700. One good contact will make the investment good.

About Ask Brien

In order to enter into licensing agreements worldwide you must own the intellectual property you are licensing worldwide and you must have a demand or market worldwide for your concept. A license is a right to use. Typically a license involves intellectual property. That property must be registered or applied in the country you want to sell to give you the right to license in that market. There aren’t just 2 fundamental product strategies. Strategies may be based upon your goals. After defining your goals you could sell, license or provide a third party right to develop a market, you may be able to franchise in a territory. Your choices will influence how you are paid and how much.

About Ask Brien

Accounts receivables are monies vendors owe you whereas accounts payable are amounts you owe to vendors.

There are many types of licenses. There are business licenses which are required to operate a business. These licenses are generally annual fees to operate a business in a certain city or county. Every business needs a business license. Then their are occupational licenses which are based upon your job. A contractor is licensed by the contractors board, a doctor by the medical board. These licenses are based upon the laws of your State. Then if you operate a restaurant and desire to sell alcohol you need Liquor license. There are other licenses as well. Generally obtain a business license in the name of your business in the city and or county where you live. Check to see if your occupation requires licensing. Next determine if your business itsel will require licenses

CA has an $800 annual tax for the privilege of doing business in the State. An LLC passes the income and expenses to the owners, known as members on a percentage ownership and each owner receives a K-1 statement. The annual tax is not based upon whether the LLC is taxed as a partnership, corporation or other. All LLC’s pay the $800 tax. Whether you are a single member, partnership or corporation is irrelevant

An LLC can own another LLC but your question is more complex and needs more information. First are all the members of the first LLC the same members in the second LLC? If there are different owners this will effect the answer. How is the second entity going to be regarded for tax purposes? Will you be taxed as a partnership, disregarded entity, S corporation. These too will effect the answer. More specifics will lead to a more precise answer…

A S corporation can own an LLC. Both an LLC and corporation owners will receive a K-1 statement at the end of each year. Meaning the income and expenses of the business will flow through to the individual owners based upon their percentage ownership. S corporation is a tax election and must be timely. There are many laws relating to this question. For example in CA you cannot form an LLC if you are a law firm but can form an S corporation. In other states a law firm can create an LLC. Thus in CA an S corporation law firm cannot own a LLC law firm since its not allowed but would be allowed in a State allowing an LLC to be formed by a law firm. There is no universal answer to this question and this is stated generally.

No. If someone has 50% +1 then that party is in control of the corporation. You can have a shareholder agreement and designate responsibilities. Shareholder elect directors. Directors appoint officers. Owning 49% makes you a large owner but tomorrow without a shareholder agreement you could be left as an owner and nothing else. I would recommend that you have a shareholders agreement that requires a vote of 50% + 1 to do any major changes like firing you as President.